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I suspect it's more of a matter of "posturing".I'm still a bit puzzled. Why trying to gather info in a way that is so blatantly obvious? Just doesn't make sense at all.
Would be hilarious of the Americans do only find meteorologic equipment in the balloon. I'm wondering if we will ever know the truth.
And based upon some of the 'hyperventilating" seen over the last few days it worked a charm.I suspect it's more of a matter of "posturing".
In other words, it's not so much a spy or weather balloon (weather balloons are designed to go with the weather, not change course) as it is a psychological presence.
I suspect it's more of a matter of "posturing".
In other words, it's not so much a spy or weather balloon (weather balloons are designed to go with the weather, not change course) as it is a psychological presence.
I would be curious to see what equipment was on board that allow the balloon to be able to change it's course contrary to prevailing winds.
Which is interesting, because during the last president's term, China launched three "weather balloons" that travelled across the U.S. - which, by the way, they started appearing not long after the President threatened to reign in China's U.S. import dominance.And based upon some of the 'hyperventilating" seen over the last few days it worked a charm.
They wear this as uniform and are thus easily to recognize.I mentioned Boeing product because of the two Boeing fans of the forum.
They out of the shirts with the Pan Am livery.
Any conjectures on just what intelligence they were trying to collect? It's so much easier to collect signals from an innocuous semi truck hauling a trailer full of gear. Optical imagery? Buy it from commercial sources. Missile silo coordinates? Bribe the Russians for it. They'll be happy to sell that info.
I assumed the reason they sent a F-22 was for the opportunity to use some helmet guided weapon. There's no heat signature and little radar signature, so your standard AAMs might not work.Next, trying to shoot a missile at the balloon, which has next to no RCS, would be complicated, most likely the missile(s) would pass through and continue on until falling to earth - again, with no idea of where the missile(s) would end up.
Most likely.I assumed the reason they sent a F-22 was for the opportunity to use some helmet guided weapon. There's no heat signature and little radar signature, so your standard AAMs might not work.